Rhoda Peterson Christensen Passes Away at 101

RHODA CHRISTENSEN 

  

Rhoda Peterson Christensen 1910 ~ 2011 Rhoda Peterson Christensen died June 8, 2011 in Bountiful, Utah at age 101. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Andrew L. and Lettie P. Peterson February 24, 1910. She was the first born of four children and the only daughter. She was raised in Mt. Pleasant, UT. She graduated from Snow College then returned to Mt. Pleasant and taught elementary school. She was married in Chicago, July 24, 1930 to Hans Reed Christensen. They moved to Ames, Iowa where he received his PhD in Physics and Mathematics. Moving to Ephraim allowed them to have the marriage solemnized in the Manti Temple. 

She lived in Ephraim where she had two children Jay (son) and Nedra (daughter). Her husband Hans Reed Christensen PhD taught at Snow College until the war when he volunteered for the Navy as a Lt. Commander. As a Navy wife she lived many places, starting in Livermore, CA then Boston, MA; becoming a Red Sox fan; Maine and Cambridge, MA where her husband was a Professor of Physics and Mathematics at Harvard and MIT. Later they moved to San Diego, CA and then back to Ephraim. Don was born there. Her interests included horticulture and flower gardening, history, music and composing poetry. She loved traveling and frequent visits to her children and grandchildren. The national parks, cruising and visiting many states were her quest. She loved books and was a Librarian at Snow College for 18 years.

 Her husband died in Ephraim in 1984. The present family consists of, Jay (Kathryn), Nedra ( Brenton), Don (Debbie), 10 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, two great great-grandchildren. Her living brother is Elden (Alice) Peterson of Bluffdale, UT. Deceased are brothers, Dean (Lyle) and Wayne (Virginia). She was "our Dear Aunt Rhoda" to all of her brother's children. 

She loved parties, everyone was invited to come and most always attended. Games of Rook and other games were constantly being played. Everyone loved "Aunt Rhoda's" cooking. She was a superb cook and plenty of cookies, jelly roles, cakes, and an endless larder of candy, ice cream, etc., delighted everyone. She was loved by everyone! Her testimony of LDS church was always unwavering. She was always active in many callings. A few were teaching, librarian, ward primary president, stake relief society president, etc. The family expresses appreciation to the staff at the Inn on Barton Creek for their considerate and loving care. Funeral services will be at the Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT. The viewing will be from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., and the funeral services at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2011. Interment will be at the Ephraim Utah Cemetery on Saturday June 18, 2011 at 1 p.m. 

Published in Salt Lake Tribune from June 15 to June 16, 2011